The
Inaugural New England History Festival will take place on Saturday, November
24th at 6:00 PM at the Hibernian Hall in Watertown.

Come and
enjoy a series of slide shows and lectures dedicated to great moments in New
England History.

Steven
Puleo, whose books include “The Boston Italians” and his newest release “Due
To Enemy Action”, will be speaking about his benchmark book “Dark Tide”.
Puleo, who was recently awarded the prestigious 2007 I Migliori Award by the
Pirandello Lyceum for his significant contribution to society, will be
speaking about the Great Boston Molasses Flood. On January 15, 1919, in the
midst of an unseasonably warm day, a steel tank exploded, sending a tidal
wave of molasses throughout the streets of Boston’s North End. Twenty were
killed and 150 injured as many homes and businesses were destroyed. As the
foremost authority on this event, Stephen will be providing the most concise
analysis of this disaster.

Michael
Tougias, whose books include “Ten Hours Until Dawn”, “King Philip’s War” and
“Nature Walks In Eastern Massachusetts”, will be speaking about his latest
book “Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival At
Sea”, which recounts the exploits of two small fishing boats that were
caught and decimated in a monster maelstrom. In November, 1980, the Fair
Wind and Sea Fever were caught by a surprise storm off the coast
of Cape Cod. The National Weather Service had erred in their forecast, and
the vessels foundered in seventy-foot waves, eventually forcing their crews
overboard. Come hear about their harrowing story of survival at sea for
three long days and nights.

Bill
Rose, one of the most knowledgeable researchers of Revolutionary War naval
battles in America today, will present his lecture “Why We Don’t Speak
French – Salt Water in the American Revolution”. Rose, a very successful
entrepreneur, will bring his presentation to life as he dons the uniform of
a French Admiral. His examination of naval engagements in North America from
1775 – 1783 reveals how close the United States came to losing several
campaigns, let alone the entire Revolutionary War. It was only providence,
luck and some cunning maneuvers on the part of select Colonial and French
admirals and captains that preserved the victory.

John Horrigan, the event’s
producer, is a New England Folklorist and “pocket historian” who has
lectured on historical fires, weather and astronomical events such as “The
Great Hurricane of 1938”, “Winters of The Revolution”, “Earthquakes of Olde
New England”, “The Great Brant Rock Fire”, “The Great Nantucket Fire” and
“The Night The Stars Fell”. Horrigan will be presenting “New England’s Dark
Day”. In May of 1780, an unexplained darkness fell over New England and
terrified settlers and Natives. John will read from several journals
describing the frightful event and refer to other American dark days such as
the “Yellow Day of 1881”, the “Year Without A Summer” in 1816 and Detroit's Dark Day
of October 16th, 1762.

Admission
is $10.00 for the general public and $5.00 for seniors, students and all
current members of historical societies. There will be trivia, prizes,
exhibits, concessions and souvenirs. Tickets can be obtained by logging on
to www.historyfestival.org

Special
Guests include: University of Massachusetts, Boston, Spellman Museum of
Stamps and Postal History, Waltham Historical Society, Historical Society of
Watertown, Community Heritage Maps, National Archives and Records
Administration, The Bostonian Society